Downtown church celebrates its 120th year

Dr. Kirk Mackie, Lead Pastor at Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church for the past 16 years, talks about his faith and about the 120-year history of the church he has come to love during a celebration of the church's birthday on Sunday morning.JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER

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"After 120 years, we're still here," said longtime church member Bill Brown. "God is up to something good."

Wilshire Avenue Community Church celebrated its 120th anniversary Sunday. Occupying the same downtown location as it did when it was constituted in 1893, Wilshire Avenue continues to love the community in Jesus' name.

Organized originally as Trinity Baptist Church, the church struggled in its early years because of typical challenges faced by new churches in rural communities: small membership, lack of funds and persistent inability to afford a full-time pastor. Nearly a century and a quarter later, things are quite different.

Today, Wilshire Avenue Community Church boasts a staff of four full-time pastors with additional ministry directors and leaders. In addition, the church fills its busy campus daily with activities and ministries on the same street corner where it started.

"Looking back, it's encouraging to see how our church has planted six new churches and supports workers in foreign countries ...," said Associate Pastor El Roy Pankow. "I love how we keep serving the needy and feeding the hungry."

Particularly noticeable during this time of year is the KidzPlay basketball league that overwhelms the gymnasium every Saturday. KidzPlay, which started 11 years ago, continues to multiply as it seeks to be a developmental sports league for kindergarten through sixth-grade students, emphasizing basketball skills and good sportsmanship.

The church birthday party, complete with lunch and a cake contest, took place in the church's multipurpose room.

Dr. Kirk Mackie, Lead Pastor at Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church for the past 16 years, talks about his faith and about the 120-year history of the church he has come to love during a celebration of the church's birthday on Sunday morning. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Dr. Kirk Mackie, Lead Pastor at Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church for the past 16 years, talks about his faith and about the 120-year history of the church he has come to love during a celebration of the church's birthday on Sunday morning. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Bruce Steel of Brea, a member of the Ministry Board at Wilshire Avenue Community Church in Fullerton, raises his hands in prayer while the church band sings "I Am Free" during Sunday's service. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Patricia Zollinger of Fullerton, and other Wilshire Avenue Community Church members, sings along with the church band during a service Sunday morning celebrating the church's 120th birthday. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Wilshire Avenue Community Church members sing along with the band during a celebration of the church's 120th birthday on Sunday. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Karlie Haslett and Ryan Amaradio sing on stage during the conclusion of Sunday morning's service at Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Susan Brady of Fullerton, and other Wilshire Avenue Community Church members, sings along with the church band during a service Sunday morning celebrating the church's 120th birthday. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Camille Brown of Cerritos raises her hands in prayer during Sunday's service at Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Wilshire Avenue Community Church Lead Pastor Dr. Kirk Mackie talks about his faith and about the 120-year history of the church he has come to love during a celebration of the church's birthday on Sunday. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Christa Lewis of Fullerton and her fiance Chris Benners of Mission Viejo sing along during Sunday morning's service at Wilshire Avenue Community Church. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Judges Susan Stevens and Bruce Steel try a sample of each cake submitted in a cake contest during a celebration of the 120th birthday of Wilshire Avenue Community Church on Sunday morning. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
A bible verse decorates the side of one of the submissions in the cake contest during Sunday's 120th birthday celebration for Fullerton's Wilshire Avenue Community Church. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Susan Stevens, Bruce Steel and Joan Morford, from left, admire several cakes submitted in a cake contest during Sunday's celebration of the 120th birthday of Wilshire Avenue Community Church. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Mac Maley, center, and Samuel Guerrero serve lunch to church member Jerry Baca during Sunday's celebration. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER
Wilshire Avenue Community Church members and their guests enjoy lunch in the gymnasium during a celebration of the church's 120th birthday on Sunday morning. JEFFREY ANTENORE, FOR THE REGISTER

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